State Department Releases Review On Benghazi Attack

The U.S. Department of State released an unclassified report Tuesday (Dec. 18) about the September terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, stating “systematic failures” in security.

The review disclosed many of the main reasons for the faulty resources and security, which resulted in the death of four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. From the 39-page report:

Systemic failures and leadership and management deficiencies at senior levels within two bureaus of the State Department (the “Department”) resulted in a Special Mission security posture that was inadequate for Benghazi and grossly inadequate to deal with the attack that took place.

The document also revealed that security in Benghazi was not recognized and did not share responsibility at the U.S. Consulate. The panel said that security staff in Benghazi on the day of, and in the time leading up to, the attack was extremely inadequate. There was a major “lack of transparency, responsiveness, and leadership at the senior levels” in Washington, Tripoli and Benghazi.

Hillary Clinton, who previously took the blame for the attack, wrote that the report “provides a clear-eyed look at serious, systemic challenges,” in letters to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Though there were no specific threats on the anniversary of 9/11 this year, the attack conjures changes as to how state diplomats are protected. Clinton, still recovering from a stomach flu and concussion, will send in Deputy Secretaries of State William Burns and Thomas Nides to testify today, in front of the House and Senate about recommendations to strengthen diplomatic security.